Last week, Robert Gordon’s College in partnership with Opportunity North East (ONE)  hosted the first of its new S6 Business Breakfasts, a key component of their S6 programme designed to equip pupils with critical professional skills in their final year of school. The programme prepares pupils for life beyond school by fostering personal branding skills, connecting them with alumni for mentorship and work experience opportunities, and providing opportunities for professional networking.

The inaugural breakfast, held on Tuesday, 10 December, saw S6 pupils engage with a group of business experts, alumni, and school staff. Among the guests attendees were:

• Graeme Gordon, CEO of IFB
• Judith Thorpe, Managing Director of TMM Recruitment
• Laurence McLeod, Director of McLeod + Aitken
• Karen O’Hanlon, Director of Digital Tech, Opportunity North East
• Shelley Lee, Marketing Manager, Robert Gordon’s College
• Stewart Hardie, Head of S6
• Laura Presslie, Director of Advancement
• Kevin Reynard, Chair of RGC Board of Governors

The breakfast provided pupils with the opportunity to put their learning into practice delivering elevator pitch techniques that they have been learning this term helping them to seek advice, contacts and insight into university courses, career choices and regions of the world they may choose to live or work in the future.

Karen O’Hanlon, Director Digital Tech at ONE commented: “ONE was delighted to partner with Robert Gordon’s College for the S6 Business Breakfast, an initiative that helps young people build professional networks and essential skills for life beyond school. ONE aims to inspire the next generation to become future entrepreneurs and drive regional innovation. It was inspiring to see students confidently engaging with industry experts and applying their elevator pitch skills.”

Mr Hardie, Head of S6 shared: “We have established this new programme to provide dedicated support for our S6 pupils as they prepare for leaving school. Moving on to the next phase in their life will bring them into new settings and environments as young adults and we want to provide them with the best start in their post school journey. Ultimately, we are aiming to help them present the best version of themselves and be confident about seeking  help, advice and support from contacts they meet beyond school. I am excited about the plans for developing this programme further going forward.”

The RGC Advancement Team has played a pivotal role in bringing the programme to life, creating opportunities for pupils to connect with alumni and the wider business community through workshops, lectures, and mentoring to help pupils understand what is meant by their personal brand and the value of a professional network.

Laura Presslie, Director of Advancement said: “We are enjoying introducing pupils to experienced alumni who are able to provide first hand advice on working in different industries from PR and journalism, investment banking, music, interior design, marketing, medicine, engineering and the many other fascinating careers that Gordonians go on to pursue beyond school. Adding the new workshops in personal branding, pitching and networking has added a whole new dimension to the skills and mindset that our pupils can take with them when they leave school. We have been so impressed by our S6 pupils and how engaged they have been throughout the programme.”